An instructional strategy, designed for any basic semester speech and/or communication course, helps students improve their informational interviewing skills. For the strategy to work smoothly, the following conditions should be met: an introductory required speech communication course; a predetermined and uniformly used amount of course content…

When running out of time on a multiple-choice test, some examinees are likely to respond rapidly to the remaining unanswered items in an attempt to get some items right by chance. Because these responses will tend to be incorrect, the presence of "rapid-guessing behavior" could cause these items to appear to be more difficult than they…

Courtroom scenes in literature seem to have a special magic with students (probably because of all the trials seen on television, fiction or non-fiction). Students in a composition and literature course at the University of Nebraska, after reading Thomas Hardy's "Tess of the D'Urbervilles," wrote "closing arguments" for either…

A method is presented for the simultaneous analysis of differential item functioning (DIF) in multi-factor situations. The method is unique in that it combines item response theory (IRT) and analysis of variance (ANOVA), takes a simultaneous approach to multifactor DIF analysis, and is capable of capturing interaction and controlling for possible…

Many educators in facilitative roles have approached the subject of visual disabilities by constructing activities designed to simulate blindness, using a blindfold or similar device. Participants are subsequently encouraged to perform rudimentary tasks such as eating a meal or moving about with a sighted companion as a guide. Frequently,…

It is unrealistic to suppose that standard item response theory (IRT) models will be appropriate for all new and currently considered computer-based tests. In addition to developing new models, researchers will need to give some attention to the possibility of constructing and analyzing new tests without the aid of strong models. Computerized…

Accuracy of item parameter estimates is a critical concern for any application of item response theory (IRT). However, the necessary sample sizes are often difficult to obtain in practice, particularly for the more complex models. A promising avenue of research concerns modified item response models. This study both replicates and improves on an…

Several person-fit statistics have been proposed to detect item score patterns that do not fit an item response theory model. To classify response patterns as not fitting a model, a distribution of a person-fit statistic is needed. The null distributions of several fit statistics have been investigated using conventionally administered tests, but…

A two-level regression model is imposed on the ability parameters in an item response theory (IRT) model. The advantage of using latent rather than observed scores as dependent variables of a multilevel model is that this offers the possibility of separating the influence of item difficulty and ability level and modeling response variation and…

Arguing that games which simulate real-world situations and events have proven to be effective educational tools, this paper suggests that they may also offer an added educational dimension to academic library collections. Twenty-five academic libraries were surveyed to determine librarians' perceptions of the academic value of games and…

To contribute to an understanding of the elements of good air traffic controller communication with the objective of providing recommendations to improve controller communication training, two studies analyzed team communication, ground-air communication, and ground-line communication. The simulated and live traffic analyses examined established…

This career awareness booklet provides information and activities to help youth prepare for career and explore jobs in the natural gas industry. Students are exposed to career planning ideas and activities; they learn about a wide variety of industry jobs, what workers say about their jobs, and how the industry operates. Five sections are…

Performance in assessing the unidimensionality of tests was examined for four methods: (1) W. F. Stout's procedure (1987); (2) the approach of P. W. Holland and P. R. Rosenbaum (1986); (3) linear factor analysis; and (4) non-linear factor analysis. Each method was examined and compared with the others using simulated and real test data. Seven data…

One of four packets designed to help day care providers serve handicapped children and their parents, the booklet describes ways to create awareness of and positive attitudes toward handicapped children. Discussion of a 1-day workshop is followed by excerpts from writings of pediatricians and educators on the needs of children with disabilities.…

High school students determine and meet the economic needs of imaginary island countries in this student-teacher created simulation game. The class is divided into six countries which determine their own economic system. Each group is provided with a summary of the current world economic situation and a confidential description of their own…